do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Parallel translations
- WEB don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
- KJV Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
- NKJV do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
- NASB do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
- NLT But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Grafted-in Gentiles must not boast over the broken branches, since the root supports them, not the reverse.
Overview
Paul warns Gentile believers against arrogance toward Israel. They do not sustain the covenant root; rather, they are sustained by it. This humbling reminder guards the church against anti-Jewish pride and keeps the focus on God's gracious promises as the source of all spiritual life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Cor 10:12So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
- Rom 11:20That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
- Rom 3:27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.
- Eph 2:19–20Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
- Prov 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- John 10:16I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
- Rom 4:16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
- Matt 26:33Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.”
- Gal 3:29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
- Zech 8:20–23This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come—the residents of many cities—
- Luke 18:9–11To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:
- 1 Kgs 20:11And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’”
- John 4:22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 11:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.